Franklin: Ladybugs abound for Cultural Council

Friday

Aug 15, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Matt TotaDaily News Staff

FRANKLIN — A group of 2-foot-tall ladybugs caused a stir on the town common this weekend.

Painted in many different colors, each with a glossy sheen, the fiberglass sculptures were born from the Cultural Council’s successful public art project to honor the elementary-schoolers – and their inventive teacher – who in 1974 successfully petitioned the Legislature to make the ladybug the official state insect.

The council was surprised by the success of the project, which has raised more than $10,000 toward some sort of art installation that will recognize Palma Johnson’s second-grade class at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.

In an effort to convince lawmakers that Massachusetts needed a state bug, the schoolchildren wrote letters and dressed as ladybugs. Along the way, Johnson taught them about government and how a bill becomes law.

Twenty sponsors, businessowners and community members, have donated $500 to design their own ladybug. Organizers then paired them up with one of eight local artists.

Members of Johnson’s family were among the sponsors. Also, state Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, and Senators Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, and Richard Ross, R-Wrentham, pooled their money to purchase a ladybug.

The bugs bear intricate, colorful designs, such as Dean College’s take on its gothic facades.

"For the Cultural Council, this has been a daunting task, but it’s been very rewarding," said former chairwoman Claire Griffin, adding that the response from the community has shown that public art can bring people together.

One-Stop Autobody on East Central Street gave the ladybugs their glow, agreeing to clear-coat them at no cost to the council.

"We always look forward to helping people in the community, especially with a project like this," said owner Joe Halligan.

Many of the sponsors took seriously their task of designing a ladybug.

The two dozen employees of Allevato Architects on Hayward Street held a contest to determine the best design. "Everyone came up with their own concepts," said Jenna Miccile, an associate at the firm. "The favorites tended to be those that include famous architects."

Unsurprisingly, the winning design featured an interpretation of one of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s stained-glass windows. The ladybug was named Frank "Lyn" Wright.

"We even included one of his (Wright’s) greatest quotes: ‘The mother of art is architecture,’" Miccile said.

In the coming months, residents may see one or two ladybugs at various town buildings or at the weekly farmers market. In October, the council will have them together again at the Franklin Downtown Partnership’s Harvest Festival.

For Griffin and others on the Cultural Council, the project celebrates something that makes Franklin unique.

"People didn’t know that there were these kids in 1974 that petitioned the state Legislature," she said. "They didn’t know we had a state bug."